Parabens

Learn about parabens.

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About parabens

Parabens are a group of chemicals most commonly used as:

They can be ingredients in a number of everyday products, such as:

Some parabens are permitted food additives and can also occur naturally in some foods.

Safety of parabens

Under Canada's Chemicals Management Plan, we review and manage the potential risks that chemical substances can pose to Canadians and the environment. The first stage of the review process is a draft chemical risk assessment.

We have completed the draft assessment of parabens. We are proposing that some parabens may pose a risk to your health:

These chemicals may cause:

We are also proposing that:

What we're doing

Our assessment is not yet final. We are continuing to evaluate the potential risk posed by parabens before we publish our final conclusion. This includes:

Currently, there are restrictions on some parabens in Canada. These restrictions limit the amount that can be used in natural health products and as food preservatives.

If the proposed findings for parabens are confirmed in the final chemical risk assessment, we will consider:

What you can do

Consumers are reminded to:

If you are exposed to parabens at work, talk to your employer and occupational health and safety (OHS) official about:

For more information

For industry and professionals

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